General News about the Danish Royal Family Part 3: November 2015 - August 2021

[JulieS]

A great video with the subtitles in English. Thank you so much !

[M. Payton]

Thank you so very much for I just finished watching it and will watch it again later today........just loved it, what a wonderful video of the royal family.

[LadyFinn]

The Swedish and Danish royal families have borrowed clothes to Sven-Harry's Art Museum's exhibition "Secrets of Couture", 26th January - 2nd April.
Sven-Harrys konstmuseum __ About the exhibition Secrets of Couture

[Muhler]

In view of the recent missile warning on Hawaii, that turned out to be a mistake (or a test?) let's have a brief view of what will happen should something similar occur here in DK.

The threat of war, let alone a missile attack is at present considered to be unlikely and as such it's not high on the contingency list for the Total Defense of Denmark.
These are: Major terrorist attacks, chemical accidents, nuclear accidents - as well as a number of local events, like flooding or a major fire.

But let us imagine that a missile is launched from say North Korea directed against Northern Europe.
The missile tracking systems are still in place, so it will be detected almost at once and within a few minutes a rough estimation of the target will be calculated. And within some more time it is possible to pin point where the missile will impact.
Okay, during the Cold War an intercontinental missile took about half an hour to reach it's target half a globe away, so that's the time-frame for this scenario.

We start at -30 minutes.
Within a number of minutes the authorities in Denmark will be alerted that a missile is incoming via NATO. It's roughly -25 minutes now.
There is always someone on duty at the Defense Command here in DK. Within a couple of minutes the button will be pressed, starting the "air-raid sirens" - which today is used from time to time to alert the public whenever something serious happens.
We are now around -22 minutes.

At the same time messages will be written and send out to the major networks and papers and a number of key-persons who are to be evacuated. Among them are the key-members of the DRF.
QMII, PH, M&F and their children. - Joachim and his family are lower on the list, but are likely to be informed within some time. But they are to a higher degree left on their own. - That is based on what was to happen during the Cold War.

There is no cell-broadcast system in place in Denmark like in Hawaii, or the Netherlands and Norway. It's a question of funding and necessity and there is a risk of collapsing an already severely strained telephone system.
So people hearing the sirens are supposed to go indoor, close all windows and turn on radio or TV or log in to the news sites on their mobiles and await information and instructions.

It's now -20 minutes.
Key persons like the DRF are supposed to be evacuated in the case of a missile attack. Preferably to the government nuclear shelter REGAN EAST (Which you can read about in the general residence thread). Along with key government members.
This is where the adjutants and PET officers or the guards commander on duty at the palaces come in.
It's their job to ensure the DRF members are whisked away to a safe location.
Let's imagine they are all at Amalienborg at say 18.59 when the adjutants (or whoever it is) burst in. Dragging them down to the courtyard where the cars are waiting. - In total confusion, with scared parents and equally scared children. PH will literally have to be carried away.

it's now -15 minutes.
Ideally a helicopter will be scrambled and pick up the DRF to fly them off to REGAN EAST. A likely place would be Kastellet, a military HQ about a kilometer from Amalienborg.
They will be there at roughly -11 minutes.

The military helicopters that can evacuate the DRF - as well as key government members, so several helicopters will be needed, are AFAIK all stationed in Jutland at least hour away. So unless there are helicopters around Copenhagen, there is no way the DRF can be evacuated to REGAN EAST.
Now, Kastellet, being a military HQ, has limited shelters and that's where the DRF will be taken down to.
It's now -5 minutes.

We don't know how accurate the incoming missile is, nor do we know at least with certainty the yield of the warhead. But let's assume it's accurate enough to hit Copenhagen center.
Okay, in my estimation the shelters at Kastellet should be able to survive an atomic blast, but a hydrogen blast of 100 KT and up makes it much more doubtful. And unless the shelters are in working order and not used as a convenient depot, i.e. with a working pressure system, they will at the very least be exposed to a good deal of radioactive fallout.
They will still have a much higher chance of avoiding radiation sickness, since they can shower, than the rest of the population.

Impact.
In this scenario it's IMO an open question as to whether the core members of the DRF will survive.
Ironically since Joachim and his family live in a solid house north of Copenhagen and is likely to be home at this time of the day, combined with Joachim's and indeed our Marie's training, they have a very good chance of surviving. Even a moderate hydrogen blast.

I must emphasize that this is a qualified guess under the most ideal circumstances for a surprise attack.
I base this very much on what I read and hear and on my time in a NBC recce unit as a conscript and later on the post-nuclear-attack scenarios we practiced during my time in the Home Guard. This was however back in the late 80's to early 90's.

It makes it even more complicated if the various members of the DRF are scattered. The children are at school. Frederik is at the office at Amalienborg. Mary is on the job somewhere and QMII is at say Fredensborg.
If M&F's four children are at school, it will first and foremost be the job of their PET officers to ensure their safety until someone else takes over.
PET officers who are likely to be in a state of shock, provided they are uninjured. Who are unable to contact anyone due to EMP, who are worried sick about their own families...

[Archduchess Zelia]

Last night was the night of the annual national telethon Danmarks Indsamling. This year's telethon was a part of the "Help Children Without A Home" campaign.

Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's Fund donated 500.000 DKK and Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Fund donated 250.000 DKK. In addition to that, there was a small feature from Mary's visit to Mali last year which (maybe) can be seen here (don't know if it's geoblocked though).

Kongehuset.dk compiled a nice little article on the donations where you can see the donations the two funds have made through the 12 years the telethon has been running.

In total 78.868.425 DKK were donated at the culmination of the show but the campaign continues throughout February.

[Lady Nimue]

Just watched this video. Great that it had English subtitles. Learned some things. Thank you for posting it.
I am loving the approaching spring but winter and Christmas are so special.

Originally Posted by Blog Real

The year with the Danish Royal Family (2017)

I think we should start a topic about the "Year of the Royal family of Denmark"

[Muhler]

It would appear the court mourning is going to be interpreted pretty strictly.

Mary has cancelled an event, that could hardly be labelled celebratory.
I discussed it with another member and I fear we will hardly see the DRF members at all for the remainder of the court mourning, that is for the next two weeks.
It would IMO seem like only the absolutely necessary events like audiences, meetings in the State Council and ambassadors, that is events that are directly linked to the function as head of state, will be undertaken.

Oh well, never mind. I've got a chapter to translate and a booklet to scan.

[polyesco]

Indeed. So far it was only the State Council yesterday and next week Frederik will hold the public audiences.
Now a Commemorative Dinner of the Armed Forces and the Air Force has been added for March 11th. The Queen and the Crown Prince Couple will participate
H.M. Dronningen og Kronprinsparret deltager i Hæderstegnsmiddag for Forsvaret og Flyvevåbnet | Kongehuset

[Muhler]

I don't get it at all.

Isn't that within the court mourning period?
And a celebratory dinner is a pretty festive thing I'd imagine.

Never mind, as long as they are out and about.

[Alisa]

That sounds festive to me
Oh well! Perhaps the ladies will be in mourning colors!

[Emmily]

How are the Danes reacting to the DRF staying out of sight after Henrik's passing and service?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Emmily

How are the Danes reacting to the DRF staying out of sight after Henrik's passing and service?

As far as there are any reactions at all those I hear about tend to go along these lines: Come on, mourning doesn't mean totally out of sight! - Which I agree with. PH was an old man, who was not well. It would be a totally different matter had it been a younger member of the DRF or worse: a child.
The press hasn't touched the subject, only covered the whereabouts of QMII - staying with friends in Norway and that we are going to see her and M&F this Sunday.

(..)

[iceflower]

.

Posts about Easter traditions have been moved to our extra thread:

** Easter Traditions Around The World **

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #11, 2018.
Written by Trine Larsen

As you know by now QMII hosted a gala for members of the air force who have served for 25 years or longer.

The award they receive is called King Frederik's Honorary Award, after Frederik IX, and it was started in 1953.
Each year the Monarch host such a dinner for one of the three branches of the military and always on 11th March.
The recipients attend without spouse.

This year is was the air force that was honored and as such Frederik drove in from Amalienborg wearing the mess uniform of the air force.
There are no details in the article about Mary's dress.
The article offers an explanation as to why some officers wore the gala uniform while others wore the mess uniform.

- The BB journalists have many qualities but knowledge about military matters are usually not among them, but here we go.
Some officers decided to "only" wear the mess uniform at this gala dinner out of respect of the DRF being in mourning.
That to me sounds like a very civilian explanation. And I doubt Frederik would "dress down" i.e. dress incorrectly for the event.
But this is the air force, so who knows...

The event was however influenced by the official court mourning in the sense that the music was less festive and more subdued.
When QMII entered the hall she did so to the tune of Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse, based on a poem by Paul Cezano - which was a nod to PH. (Perhaps some of our French friends can tell us a little bit about the significance of this march?)
The dinner ended to the tunes of PH's Honorary March.

But you can feast your eyes on the scans of the article here, including a small photo of how Mary's dress looked like without the cape.

There are also some wonderful photos of Estelle that I simply couldn't resist scanning.
Oh, and I've included last weeks issue as well, even though nothing happened.

BB #11, 2018

BB #10, 2018

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #11, 2018.
Written by Trine Larsen

As you know by now QMII hosted a gala for members of the air force who have served for 25 years or longer.

The award they receive is called King Frederik's Honorary Award, after Frederik IX, and it was started in 1953.
Each year the Monarch host such a dinner for one of the three branches of the military and always on 11th March.
The recipients attend without spouse.

This year is was the air force that was honored and as such Frederik drove in from Amalienborg wearing the mess uniform of the air force.
There are no details in the article about Mary's dress.
The article offers an explanation as to why some officers wore the gala uniform while others wore the mess uniform.

- The BB journalists have many qualities but knowledge about military matters are usually not among them, but here we go.
Some officers decided to "only" wear the mess uniform at this gala dinner out of respect of the DRF being in mourning.
That to me sounds like a very civilian explanation. And I doubt Frederik would "dress down" i.e. dress incorrectly for the event.
But this is the air force, so who knows...

The event was however influenced by the official court mourning in the sense that the music was less festive and more subdued.
When QMII entered the hall she did so to the tune of Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse, based on a poem by Paul Cezano - which was a nod to PH. (Perhaps some of our French friends can tell us a little bit about the significance of this march?)
The dinner ended to the tunes of PH's Honorary March.

But you can feast your eyes on the scans of the article here, including a small photo of how Mary's dress looked like without the cape.

There are also some wonderful photos of Estelle that I simply couldn't resist scanning.
Oh, and I've included last weeks issue as well, even though nothing happened.

BB #11, 2018

BB #10, 2018

Muhler, you piqued my curiosity and I looked up "le regiment de Sambre et de Meuse". It was written after the Franco Prussian war and tells the story of the regiment that "always walked the glorious road to immortality while singing out its love of freedom". The regimental leader was old and wanted to beat a retreat but the soldiers refused to listen and fought "a battle of giants to the end and even while dying they closed their ranks". Only one soldier remained alive, tells the poem, and when he realized his fate, he killed himself. The march clearly celebrates team spirit and the idea of one for all and all for one. It is used as a football song by the University of Ohio; I have an idea of why this song was chosen by HM, but perhaps you and other forum members can share your thoughts here.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by gerry

Muhler, you piqued my curiosity and I looked up "le regiment de Sambre et de Meuse". It was written after the Franco Prussian war and tells the story of the regiment that "always walked the glorious road to immortality while singing out its love of freedom". The regimental leader was old and wanted to beat a retreat but the soldiers refused to listen and fought "a battle of giants to the end and even while dying they closed their ranks". Only one soldier remained alive, tells the poem, and when he realized his fate, he killed himself. The march clearly celebrates team spirit and the idea of one for all and all for one. It is used as a football song by the University of Ohio; I have an idea of why this song was chosen by HM, but perhaps you and other forum members can share your thoughts here.

Thanks.

Well, it's clearly a reference to the French elán.
Something PH to a considerable extent possessed. So I guess that's where the connotation lies.

What are your thoughts and why on earth has the University of Ohio, of all places, chosen this song?!?

[eya]

The Danish Royal House share stories about Easter this week!

"It is soon Easter, and this week there are pictures and stories of the royal special Easter treasures.

Here is a special golden egg from 1720, which is believed to be the inspiration for the later known Fabergé eggs. For over 30 years from 1885 onwards, the Russian Jewels created the precious easter eggs that have since become world famous. The story is that the Russian Emperor Alexander III and the Danish-born Emperor Dagmar saw this golden egg belonging to the Emperor's mother, Queen Louise. The egg originated from France and was made as a gift from Charlotte of Orléans to the English Queen Caroline. The egg was inherited from King Frederik 6's wife, Queen Marie Sophie Frederikke, to Queen Louise.
Back in Russia, the emperor asked the jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé to make an egg to the Emperor for the Easter, and thus the tradition was created for the famous Fabergé Easter eggs."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgx4H_tA...danskekongehus

Another Day , another Easter story

"Every year until Easter in the late 1800s, the female members of the Russian Emperor family received small and large easter eggs made by the Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé. It became a custom that the small eggs were assembled in a chain that could be worn around the neck or hung up on the wall or in a showcase as a decoration. Here are some of these necklaces and bracelets with miniature Easter eggs, currently owned by H.H. Princess Elisabeth. "

I love them!!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0ST8Tg...danskekongehus

[iceflower]

.

Today's Easter treasure - a paper clip by H.C. Andersen, who presented it to King Christian 9. On the back he had written "In every leaf is a magic. There is a living soul in there.":


** Photo **

[eya]

Easter Story today. A very lovely video!!

"In the early 1970s, Prince Henrik took this narrow film by D.K.H. Crown Prince and Prince Joachim, who together with H.M. The queen found Easter eggs in Marselisborg Castle Park."

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg5jpFWg...danskekongehus

And today we have

"At Marselisborg Castle, H.M. The queen decorated with his homemade Easter eggs on spring-leaf branches"

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg8G0rsA...danskekongehus

Another Easter story today

"The jeweler Fabergé made this Easter egg-inspired cigarette lighter, belonging to H.K.H Princess Benedikte, in the first half of the 1890s. At the top of the egg there is room for a wick from which the cigarette can turn on"

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg-pgqYA...danskekongehus

And today wish from Marselisborg

"Glædelig påske." Happy Easter!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhBJDb1g...danskekongehus

[polyesco]

That is a very lovely video of the DRF family looking for Easter eggs

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelig...achim-paa-jagt